Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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Load arrangement and electrical power arrangement for powering a load
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a load arrangement for use in an electrical
power arrangement and for arrangement at a first external electrically
conductive element.
The present invention relates further to an electrical power arrangement for
powering a load
of such a load arrangement.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
WO 2009/153715 A2 discloses a light emitting device comprising a first
common electrode, a structured conducting layer, forming a set of electrode
pads electrically
isolated from each other, a dielectric layer, interposed between the first
common electrode
layer and the structured conducting layer, a second common electrode, and a
plurality of light
emitting elements. Each light emitting element is electrically connected
between one of the
electrode pads and the second common electrode, so as to be connected in
series with a
capacitor comprising one of the electrode pads, the dielectric layer, and the
first common
electrode. When an alternating voltage is applied between the first and second
common
electrodes, the light emitting elements will be powered through a capacitive
coupling, also
providing current limitation. During operation of the light emitting device, a
short-circuit
failure in one light emitting element will affect only light emitting elements
connected to the
same capacitor. Further, the short-circuit current will be limited by this
capacitor.
In certain application scenarios such a light emitting device, in particular
the
way of powering the light emitting device (or generally a load), has
disadvantages, e.g. due to
the electrical connection between the common electrode layer and the AC
voltage source.
Such application scenarios include, for instance, systems for anti-fouling of
a surface (e.g. a
ship hull) while said surface is at least partially submersed in an liquid
environment (e.g. sea
water), in which UV light is emitted by light sources mounted in some way to
the outer
surface of the ship hull to counter bio-fouling of the ship hull.
WO 2014/060921 Al discloses an LED package arranged to emit light when
connected to an AC power supply, comprising a first and a second LED package
terminal, at
least one pair of diodes connected in anti-parallel between the LED package
terminals,
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wherein at least one of the diodes is a light emitting diode. The first LED
package terminal is
detachably connectable to a first power supply terminal, and adapted to form a
first capacitive
coupling together with the first power supply terminal, and the second LED
package terminal is
detachably connectable to a second power supply terminal, and adapted to form
a second capacitive
coupling together with the second power supply terminal. By providing
electrical connections which
are less sensitive to temperature dependent degradation, the life time of the
LED package may be
increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved load
arrangement and
.. an improved electrical power arrangement for powering a load, which can be
used in particular
application scenarios under more difficult environmental conditions with
little or even no loss of
performance and without the risk of getting damaged, e.g. due to exposure to
environmental
influences, such as exposure to sea water.
In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a load
arrangement
comprising: a load, the load comprising at least one of a light source, a
sensor or an electronic
circuit, a first electrode electrically connected to the load, a dielectric
layer, a carrier, wherein the
carrier is arranged to carry the load, the first electrode and the dielectric
layer, wherein the load, the
first electrode and the dielectric layer form a structure, wherein the load is
arranged at a first
external electrically conductive element, wherein the first electrode and the
dielectric layer are
.. arranged to form, in combination with the first external electrically
conductive element representing
an outer surface of a marine structure, a capacitor for capacitive
transmission of electrical power
between the first electrode and the first external electrically conductive
element, wherein the carrier
is arranged at the first external electrically conductive element, and wherein
the load is connected to
a second electrode or is arranged for being electrically connected to a second
external electrically
.. conductive element, wherein the second electrode is electrically insulated
from the first electrode,
wherein the second external electrically conductive element electrically
insulated from the first
electrode.
In another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrical
power
arrangement for powering a load, the electrical power arrangement comprising:
an AC power
source; and a load arrangement comprising: a load, the load comprising at
least one of a light source,
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a sensor or an electronic circuit, a first electrode electrically connected to
the load, a dielectric layer,
a carrier, wherein the carrier is arranged to carry the load, the first
electrode and the dielectric layer,
wherein the load, the first electrode and the dielectric layer form a
structure, wherein the load is
arranged at a first external electrically conductive element, wherein the
first electrode and the
.. dielectric layer are arranged to form, in combination with the first
external electrically conductive
element representing an outer surface of a marine structure, a capacitor for
capacitive transmission
of electrical power between the first electrode and the first external
electrically conductive element,
wherein the carrier is arranged at the first external electrically conductive
element, and wherein the
load is connected to a second electrode or is arranged for being electrically
connected to a second
external electrically conductive element wherein the second electrode is
electrically insulated from
the first electrode, wherein the second external electrically conductive
element electrically insulated
from the first electrode.
In a further aspect of the present invention an electrical power arrangement
is present
comprising an AC power source and a load arrangement as disclosed herein.
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In still a further aspect of the present invention a marine structure, such as
a
ship, is presented having an outer surface comprising a load arrangement as
disclosed herein,
wherein the load arrangement is attached to said outer surface.
It shall be understood that the claimed electrical power arrangement and
the claimed marine structure have similar and/or identical preferred
embodiments
as the claimed load arrangement.
The present invention is based on the idea to modify and optimize the use of
capacitive power transfer for application in challenging environments, such as
in the wet,
conductive and harsh ambient environment of the sea. Furthermore, the electric
circuit of the
load arrangement and of the electrical power arrangement has been adapted for
robustness
against moderate and severe impact as well as surface cutting damage at
various levels, such
as for example UV-C LEDs (as loads) developing one or more open or short-
circuit
connections. This is achieved by making use of a first external electrically
conductive
element, which forms a capacitor together with the first electrode and the
dielectric layer for
capacitive transmission of electrical power between the first electrode and
the first external
element. The electrical power may thereby be provided by an AC power source,
whose first
AC terminal is electrically connected to the first external element providing
a clearly defined
voltage potential at the first external element when the electrical power
arrangement is in use.
According to the arrangement disclosed in WO 2009/153715 A2 a rigid carrier
is deployed to carry electronic components such as for example LEDs. A
disadvantage of this
carrier is that it is only bendable to some extent, yet, even than it will be
difficult to apply
such carriers to three dimensional curved surfaces, such as the surfaces of a
ship hull.
Furthermore, although such carriers may be built segmented to yield more
flexibility, the
freedom of placement of such carriers is limited. To that end, the carrier is
preferably broken
or cut into individual subcarriers, thereby disrupting the common power supply
terminal. In
contrast, according to the present disclosure a sticker like arrangement, e.g.
placed on a
carrier, is chosen to cope i) with contoured surfaces and ii) to allow for
full freedom of
(partially overlapping) placement, while still ensuring a common power supply
terminal by
means of using of a common liquid conductor, such as water or sea water.
Furthermore, it is
desirable that only submerged loads are operated, for example for safety and
energy
efficiency. Since the water level along the hull self-adapts to the varying
sailing speeds of the
ship, the weather conditions at sea and the cargo loading conditions of the
ship, it may be
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clear that also the common power supply terminal adapts instantaneously
without the need
for controlling electronics.
According to the present invention the load, the first electrode and the
dielectric layer form a structure. It shall be understood that the structure
may not only be
formed from these elements, but that additional elements may be provided to
form the
structure. In some embodiments these elements themselves are configured to
form the
structure (e.g. the load and the first electrode dielectric layer may be
embedded in dielectric
material of the dielectric layer thus forming the structure). In other
embodiments one or more
additional elements (e.g. a carrier, a substrate, an adhesive layer, etc.) are
provided to form
the structure together with these three elements.
In an embodiment the load arrangement further comprises a carrier carrying
the load, the first electrode and the dielectric layer and being configured
for being arranged at
the first external electrically conductive element. This enables a flexible
use and handling of
the load arrangement. Together with the load, the first electrode and the
dielectric layer the
carrier carries a form a structure, which is configured for being arranged at
the first external
electrically conductive element. Generally, there may be load arrangement with
or without
carrier.
The carrier is preferably in sheet form, wherein at least one surface of the
carrier is covered with an adhesive material. The carrier may thus e.g. be
configured like a
.. sticker, tile or wallpaper that can be easily attached to other entities by
use of the adhesive
material.
The load arrangement may further comprise a film that is removably attached
to the surface covered with the adhesive material. Thus, the adhesive material
is protected
before use, and only before use the film is removed.
The size and/or form of the carrier is preferably made to match the form
and/or
size of an area of application, i.e. can be pre-manufactured according to the
desired use
scenario. For instance, if configured like a sticker, the layout of the
sticker may be made
according to expected fouling layout. The fouling amount would differ on
different areas of
the hull based on the shape of the relevant area, the depth within water of
the relevant area,
the temperature of the relevant area based on the distance to the motor etc.
Accordingly, there
will be areas where more fouling occurs and areas where it is less.
It is thus preferred to apply the sticker to areas that will be submerged.
Furthermore, some areas may be more sensitive to fouling than others, due to
for example
different depths and water speeds along the hull. Hence, areas being more
susceptible to
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fouling may carry stickers that provide more cleaning power, such for example
higher power
LEDs or a denser sticker arrangement or it may be made to match different
areas of the first
external electrically conductive clement.
In another embodiment the surface of the carrier (i.e. the surface that is not
5 used to mount the load arrangement to another entity and/or the outer
surface of the load
arrangement opposite to the surface of the carrier covered with the adhesive
material is
covered with an adhesive material, in particular for receiving a light guide
or dithering
surface on one of the surfaces. For instance, both surfaces of the carrier may
be covered with
an adhesive material.
To allow different application scenarios, e.g. the mounting of the load
arrangement to a curved surface, the carrier is preferably made of flexible
material, such as a
(thermo-) plastic material, that is also resistant to the environment in which
the load
arrangement is used. The used material has preferably a low power dissipation
factor D, for
which purpose the dielectric layer, carrier and adhesive are used. Further,
the used materials
do not absorb (sea) water and in particular no externally present conductive
ions (in the sea
water). Still further, at least some of the materials are rugged (i.e.
mechanically resistant
against impact). To achieve this effect, the carrier material may consist of a
stack or mixture
of multiple (hybrid) materials, with each material component at least
fulfilling one or more of
the above mentioned desired requirements. Further alternatives such as paper
soaked into
water resistant material or a casted version which need not be flexible are
available.
In another embodiment the carrier comprises an indicator for installation of
the
load arrangement, in particular for indicating the installation position
and/or installation
direction and/or overlap possibility. This makes the installation of the load
arrangement
easier. The indicator may e.g. be a line or arrow, but can generally be any
other indicator.
Additionally or alternatively, the carrier may comprise an indicator
indicating
where to cut the carrier. This may help to prevent the user from cutting areas
where electrical
lines or elements are placed on the carrier, which could be damaged by cutting
the carrier.
Multiple carriers, e.g. stickers, may be arranged on a rollable film so that a
user can cut off from said roll as many load arrangements as desired.
The load arrangement may also be configured to be cut to measure or may be
pre-cut accordingly. This allows a more flexible use of the proposed load
arrangement.
The first external element may be selected from the group of electrically
conductive elements comprising water, in particular sea water, an
environmental object, in
particular a part of a building or vehicle, and an infrastructural object. For
instance, the first
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external element may be a ship hull, to which a plurality of load arrangements
(e.g. each
comprising one or more UV-LEDs) arc mounted to counter bio-fouling. The ship
hull can
thus be favorably used as one electrode of the first capacitor and thus avoids
providing
galvanic connections between a first AC terminal of the AC power source and a
first load
terminal of the load (the one or more UV-LEDs), i.e. the ship hull needs not
to be pierced to
provide such galvanic connections and thus leads to a better construction and
less
deterioration of the ship hull.
For connection of the second AC terminal different options exists. According
to one embodiment the electrical power arrangement comprises a second
electrode that is
electrically connected to a second load terminal and a second AC terminal.
Plural load
arrangements may share the same second electrode so that the number of
galvanic
connections between the second AC terminal of the AC power source and the
second
electrode can be limited to a minimum.
According to another embodiment the second AC terminal and the second load
terminal are electrically connected to a second external electrically
conductive element,
which is insulated from the first external element and which is selected horn
the group of
electrically conductive elements comprising water, in particular sea water, an
environmental
object, in particular a part of a building or vehicle, and an infrastructural
object. Hence, in
certain applications, depending on the circumstances, existing elements may be
used to form
a second capacitor or use the effect of self-capacitance for power transfer
between the second
AC power terminal and the second load terminal.
According to another embodiment the load arrangement further comprises an
electrically conductive current guidance member for being arranged within or
attached to the
second external element and the load. This current guidance member further
supports the
current path between the AC power source, e.g. a second AC terminal thereof,
and the load,
e.g. a second load terminal. It guides the current between these elements, but
is generally not
in galvanic contact with the AC power source and the load.
Further, the electrical power arrangement may comprise a DC power line for
being arranged within or attached to the second external element. Preferably,
it is electrically
connected to the AC power source, e.g. the second AC terminal. This DC power
line may e.g.
be an existing DC power line, as e.g. used by ships to impress a DC current
into the sea water
to provide cathodic protection against natural corrosion.
Still further, a housing accommodating the load, the first electrode and the
dielectric layer may be provided. The housing including these elements may
thus be
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manufactured and used a modular units (or tiles) which can be separately
exchanged in case
of malfunction and which can be arbitrarily combined as needed by the
respective application.
Hereby, the housing may be represented by a separate casing or box, e.g. of a
protective
material against the influences of the environment, but may alternatively be
represented by
.. the dielectric material of the dielectric layer, which may encapsulate the
load and the first
electrode.
In another embodiment the load arrangement may further comprise a second
electrode electrically connected to a second load terminal of the load and a
second AC
terminal of the AC power source and accommodated in the housing.
In particular applications the electrical power arrangement comprises a
plurality of loads, whose first load terminals are coupled in parallel to a
common first
electrode or separate first electrodes and whose second load terminals are
coupled in parallel
to a common second electrode, separate second electrodes or the second
external element.
Thus, various options exist for coupling the loads together. Preferably,
several loads share a
common AC power source to reduce the number of connections between the AC
power
source and the loads.
For use in an implementation directed to counter bio-fouling, where the first
external element may be a ship hull, the load preferably comprises a light
source, in
particular an LED or an UV-LED (e.g. an UV-C LED).
Further, the load may comprise a diode bridge circuit, wherein the light
source
is coupled between the midpoints of the diode bridge circuit. The load may
thus be
considered as being sub-divided into multiple sub-loads by deploying e.g. four
low-cost
Schottky diodes as a Graetz bridge (or Graetz circuit), thereby providing a
local DC power
supply (e.g. serving one or more light sources). This local DC power source
can also be used
to operate other polarity sensitive electronics or any other electronic
circuit that requires DC
power, such as a fouling monitor sensor and controller IC(s) in an anti-
fouling application.
In another embodiment the load comprises a first LED and a second LED
coupled anti-parallel to each other. This further improves the operation of
the LEDs by
means of an AC power source (e.g. an oscillator). However, due to the higher
costs of one
UV-C LED compared to four Schottky diodes the Graetz bridge is more cost
effective in
providing power during the full AC cycle.
According to one aspect the present invention is directed to a marine
structure,
such as a ship or boat or vessel, having an outer surface comprising a load
arrangement as
disclosed herein, wherein the load arrangement is attached to the said outer
surface. The
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marine structure may comprise an energy source for providing the energy for
powering the
load of the load arrangement. Said energy source may be a generator, an
engine, a battery, a
chemical reactor (for generating energy by a chemical reaction of a substance
e.g. with water)
or generally any kind of source that is able to provide sufficient electrical
energy for
powering the load of the load arrangement. Said energy source may be coupled
to, or
comprise, or represent the AC power source.
In a further aspect the present invention relates to a method for installing a
load arrangement as disclosed herein to an outer surface of a marine
structure, e.g. a ship hull.
In a still further aspect the present invention relates to the use of a load
arrangement as disclosed herein for installation to an outer surface of a
marine structure, in
particular to counter bio-fouling of the outer surface, e.g. a ship hull.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated
with reference to the embodiment described hereinafter. In the following
drawings
Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of an electrical power
arrangement according to the present invention,
Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the first embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement in an anti-fouling application scenario,
Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of a first embodiment of a load
arrangement according to the present invention,
Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement according to the present invention,
Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of the second embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement in an anti-fouling application scenario,
Fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement according to the present invention,
Fig. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement in an anti-fouling application scenario,
Fig. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement according to the present invention in an anti-fouling
application scenario,
Fig. 9 shows a schematic diagram of a fifth embodiment of an electrical power
arrangement according to the present invention in an anti-fouling application
scenario,
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Fig. 10 shows a schematic diagram of a sixth embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement according to the present invention,
Fig. 11 shows a schematic diagram of the sixth embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement in an anti-fouling application scenario,
FIGS. 12A and 12B show diagrams of a locally cut segmented second electrode
and of a
damaged segmented second electrode,
FIGS. 13A and 13B show a side view and a top view, respectively, of a
practical
implementation of an electrical power arrangement according to the present
invention in
an anti-fouling application scenario,
Fig. 14 shows a side view of another practical implementation of an electrical
power arrangement according to the present invention in an anti-fouling
application scenario,
and
Fig. 15 shows examples of the combination of an active UV-C LED strip and
an add-on passive UV-C light guide executed as a roll, tile or strip.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
in the following, the present invention will be explained with reference to an
application scenario, in which it is used for powering of UV light sources (in
particular
LEDs), that may be mounted to the outer surface of a ship hull to counter bio-
fouling. Hence,
before the details of various embodiments of disclosed subject matter will be
explained, the
general idea and known approaches to counter bio-fouling in such an
application scenario
will be discussed.
WO 2014/188347 Al discloses a method of anti-fouling of a surface while
said surface is at least partially submersed in a liquid environment. The
disclosed method
comprises providing an anti-fouling light, distributing at least part of the
light through an
optical medium comprising a silicone material and/or UV grade (fused) silica,
and emitting
the anti-fouling light from the optical medium and from the surface. Such anti-
fouling
solutions are based on UV-C irradiation to prevent the (initial) settlement of
micro- and
macro organisms, for instance on a ship hull. The problem with bio-films is
that as their
thickness increases over time due to growth of the organisms its surface
roughens. Hence, the
drag increases, requiring the engine to consume more fuel to maintain the
ship's cruising
speed, and thus the operational costs increase. Another impact of bio-fouling
can be a
reduction in the cooling capacity of a pipe radiator or a flow capacity
reduction of salt water
intake filters and pipes. Therefore, service and maintenance costs increase.
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A potential solution to counter bio-fouling of the ship hull can be the
coverage
of the exterior hull with slabs of for example UV-C transparent materials
having embedded
UV-C LED(s). These slabs, or generally any loads or load arrangement (i.e.
elements or
arrangements consuming electrical energy), are located below the waterline.
This is because
5 the submerged surfaces are predominantly sensitive to bio-fouling and,
hence, responsible for
the increase in drag. Hence, electrical power needs to be delivered under the
water-line
towards the loads.
The combination of electricity, water and the rough and tough environment of
the off-shore industry possess a real challenge. This is because (sea) water
is a good electric
10 conductor and, hence, short circuits may easily arise. Furthermore,
water decomposes under
the influence of an electrical current. In the case of sea water it decomposes
under DC current
in chlorine and hydrogen gas. Under AC current, both gasses are formed
alternatingly at each
electrode. An additional problem with the gasses formed is that chlorine can
enhance the
already natural occurring corrosion of the steel ship hull and accelerates the
degradation of
other materials including the UV-C LEDs if not hermetically sealed. The
hydrogen gas on the
other hand can cause iron embrittlement, eventually leading to severe crack
formation within
the iron bulk.
To counter natural corrosion of the steel hull most ships are coated or
painted
and in addition often equipped with passive or active cathodic protecting
systems such that
the ship hull remains protected against natural corrosion when the protective
coat or paint
fails locally. Passive systems use sacrificial Zinc, Aluminum or Iron anodes
that dissolve
electro-chemically over time, whereas active systems impress a DC current in
using anodes
made of MMO-Ti (mix metal oxides) coated Titanium or Pt/Ti (Platinum coated
Titanium).
For active systems impressing a DC current into the sea water careful
monitoring is required
as too large currents may dissolve the hull locally at enhanced rates.
Obviously, anti-fouling
solutions should not render the cathodic protection system to fail. Hence, the
ship's hull
should act as the ground terminal, the protective currents should be DC, and
the sea water
may serve as a high conductivity medium closing the electric circuit.
Furthermore, ship hulls get (severely) damaged over life, for example due to
natural wear, non-intentional collisions with float wood and other close or
near to the surface
floating objects, or they may suffer from more controlled impacts due to
collisions with other
ships, such as towboats or ships bound adjacent. It is therefore more than
likely that also the
anti-fouling loads get damaged over life as well as the power supply lines.
Moreover, both
loads and supply lines may get severely damaged and even get cut to yield open
circuits wet
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by the conductive sea water. Hence, unwanted electro-chemistry may occur
because of
external inflicted damage. For this reason, DC power sources should not be
used as the
primary power source for powering the loads.
However, to operate the UV-C LEDs, DC currents are generally preferred.
Hence, within the anti-fouling load, means and methods are required that can
generate local
DC currents when fed with AC power. More preferably, the DC current source is
isolated
from the steel hull (preferably serving as ground terminal). Thus, although
electro-chemistry
may occur when DC power terminals become exposed, the electro-chemistry will
be
confined to the area of exposure. Furthermore, the magnitude of the electro-
chemistry will
depend on the amount of DC current that can flow locally and the surface area
of the
electrodes exposed. Hence, there is also a need to limit the DC current near
to a value as
required by the UV-C LEDs (typically tenths of milli-Amperes for small LEDs)
and to limit
the surface area of the exposed local DC power terminals.
Hence, in practice a substantial area of the anti-fouling solution may become
damaged over life. In theory, the damage can comprise local damage of one or
more UV-C
LEDs within one or more loads or even a large part of a load might disappear.
Hence,
(seamless) tiled loads are proposed in an embodiment. Within the tile some
kind of sub-
division of the UV-C LEDs and power source may be provided, since one failing
LED (or,
generally, load) should not yield the functional remainder of the tile to
become non-
operational on damage. Hereby, failing LEDs can yield either an open or a
short circuit, and
since UV-C LEDs are rather expensive, it is recommended to avoid series LED
strings.
Obviously, also tiled loads will still require some kind of electrical power,
either wired or wireless. Given the expected issues with a wire hassle, the
off-shore industry
is rough and tough, wireless power solutions are preferred and proposed by the
present
invention. Yet, with both the sea water and the iron hull being good
electrical conductors, the
power transfer losses in inductive systems as well as (RF) wireless solutions
can be quite
large. Besides that, they can be rather bulky. Hence, an attractive solution
to provide electric
power makes use of AC capacitive coupling.
Conventional capacitive (wireless) power transfer systems use one or two
(long) supply wires driven by an AC oscillator. When the supply wires are
covered with a
dielectric film, a receiving element having two pick-up electrodes can be
placed on top
anywhere along the wires and power is transferred. Further, in known
electrical power
arrangement for powering a load the transferred power may be reactance
limited. The system
functions because of the well isolating properties of the ambient air. Thus,
high voltage
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electric fields can be set-up between the two passive ground electrodes of the
receiving
element. However, when the ambient environment becomes conductive, as is the
case for sea
water, the transfer of power becomes also facilitated anywhere along the two
wires by the
well conducting ambient. Hence, it is very difficult to transfer any power at
all towards the
intended receiving element.
According to the present invention the use of a capacitive power transfer has
been modified and optimized for application e.g. in electrical power
arrangements for
transferring power to light sources mounted to the part of a ship hull that is
usually under
water, i.e. in a wet, conductive and harsh ambient environment. Furthermore,
the electric
circuit has been adapted for robustness against moderate and severe impact as
well as surface
cutting damage at the various levels, such as for example UV-C LEDs developing
one or
more open or short-circuit connections.
Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a first embodiment of an electrical power
arrangement 100 according to the present invention for powering a load 2. The
electrical
power arrangement 100 comprises a first embodiment of a load arrangement 300
according
to the present invention. The load arrangement 300 comprises a load 2 having a
first load
terminal 2a and a second load terminal 2b, a first electrode 3 (also called
active electrode
hereinafter) electrically connected to the load 2 and a dielectric layer 4.
The load 2, the first
electrode 3 and the dielectric layer 4 form a structure, which is configured
for being arranged
at a first external electrically conductive element 5. Further, the first
electrode 3 and the
dielectric layer 4 are arranged to form, in combination with a first external
electrically
conductive element 5, a capacitor 6 for capacitive transmission of electrical
power between
the first electrode 3 and the first external element 5. The load 2 is further
connected to a
second electrode 7 electrically insulated from the first electrode 3.
In this context, it shall be noted that the load 2, the first electrode 3 and
the
dielectric layer 4 preferably form a structure. It shall be understood that
the structure may not
only be formed from these elements, but that additional elements may be
provided to form
the structure. In some embodiments these elements themselves are configured to
form the
structure (e.g. the load and the first electrode dielectric layer may be
embedded in dielectric
material of the dielectric layer thus forming the structure). In other
embodiments one or more
additional elements (e.g. a carrier, a substrate, an adhesive layer, etc.) are
provided to form
the structure together with these three elements.
The electrical power arrangement 100 further comprises an AC power source
1 (e.g. an oscillator) having a first AC terminal 1 a and a second AC terminal
lb. The first AC
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terminal la is arranged for being electrically connected to the first external
element 5, i.e.
after mounting and in use the first AC terminal la and the first external
element 5 arc
electrically connected. The second AC terminal 2b and the second load terminal
lb arc
electrically connected to a second electrode 7 (also called passive electrode
hereinafter).
Hence, electrical power can be transmitted via the capacitor 6 from the AC
power source I to
the load. As first external element 5, elements available in the environment
or infrastructure
may be used, such as a hull of a vehicle, an electrically conductive floor
cover and wall cover,
part of building, etc. may be used.
Fig. 2 shows a diagram of the first embodiment of an electrical power
arrangement 200 and a load arrangement 400 in an anti-fouling application
scenario. In this
embodiment, the load 20 is a UV-C LED and the first external element 50 is a
ship hull,
which is (at least partly) electrically conductive (i.e. the complete ship
hull, only the inner
surface, only the outer surface or only certain areas of the ship hull may be
configured to be
conductive or made from conductive material, e.g. a metal). The AC power
source 1 is
.. generally arranged on board of the ship. The first AC terminal la contacts
the conductive
surface of the ship hull 50, and the second AC terminal lb is connected by a
connection wire
lc through the ship hull 50 with the second electrode 7. The LED 20, the
dielectric layer 4
and the first electrode 3 (optionally also the second electrode 7) are
preferably carried by a
carrier 80, which is arranged at the first external electrically conductive
element (5, 50).
The load arrangement 400 is configured such that the electrical components
are protected against the water 10 (in particular sea water). Several of such
load arrangements
can be coupled in parallel to the AC power source 1, i.e. the second
electrodes (which may be
separate electrodes or a common large second electrode) of multiple load
arrangements can
be coupled to the same AC power source 1 and the same connection wire lc. In
this way the
number of AC power sources and connection wires can be kept small even if the
number of
load arrangements is large.
Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the load
arrangement 400. The carrier 80 may be a thin plate, a sheet or substrate,
made e.g. of a
material (preferably fulfilling the above described requirements) resistant
against the
environment in which it is used. Preferably, the carrier 80 is flexible to be
able to arrange it to
different elements 5, e.g. to curve surfaces like a ship hull. The dielectric
layer 4 is provided
on top of the carrier 80, and the load 2 is embedded into the dielectric layer
4. Further, the
first electrode 3 is provided embedded in the dielectric layer 4. The electric
load terminal 2b
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can be embedded in, sit on top of or even stick out of the dielectric layer 4.
The second
electrode 7 is provided on top of the dielectric layer 4.
For enabling arrangement of the being arranged at the first external
electrically
conductive element 5, e.g. the ship hull 50, in a simple manner, an adhesive
material 90 may
be provided on one surface 81 of the carrier 80. The adhesive material 90 may
further be
covered a removable film 91 as protection of the adhesive material 81 before
application of
the carrier 80 to the element 5.
Instead of adhesives which have a chemical base for fixation, hot melt
(thermoplastic material, rigid when cold, once heated for example via steam,
becomes a fluid
locally for a short time and ensures the connection) or mechanical anchoring
(micro hooks of
two materials that engage during binding) or a combination of these can be
used.
Further, the size and/or form of the carrier 80 may be made to match the form
and/or size of an area of application. For instance, the load arrangement may
be configured as
a kind of tile or sticker, which is designed to match the form and/or size of
the element 5 or
such that several of such stickers or tiles can be combined (placed adjacent
to each other) to
cover the desired area of the element 5 in an easy manner.
Preferably, the surface 82 of the carrier 80 and/or the outer surface 92 of
the
load arrangement opposite to the surface 81 of the carrier covered with the
adhesive material
is covered with an adhesive material 93, in particular for receiving a light
guide or dithering
surface on one of the surfaces.
The carrier 80 may further comprise an indicator 94 for installation of the
load
arrangement, in particular for indicating the installation position and/or
installation direction
and/or overlap possibility. Such an indicator may simply be a dotted line or a
cutting line or
any graphic that shows how and where to apply the carrier to the element 5.
Multiple load arrangements may be provided as a roll so that single load
arrangements can be taken from said roll and applied as desired, or a whole
sequence of load
arrangements can be used and applied simultaneously.
Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement 101 including a second embodiment of a load arrangement 301
according
to the present invention, and Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of said second
embodiment of
the electrical power arrangement 201 including the second embodiment of the
load
arrangement 401 in an anti-fouling application scenario. Different from the
first embodiment,
the second embodiment does not make use of a second electrode, but the second
AC terminal
lb and the second load terminal 2b are electrically connected to a second
external electrically
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conductive element 11 insulated from the first external element 5, in
particular by wires ld
and 2d. In the application scenario depicted in Fig. 5 the second external
element n is
preferably the water 10, in particular sea water, through which the current
path is closed
between the second AC terminal lb and the second load terminal 2b, which has
the
5 advantage that no extra wire electrode 7 is required as in the first
embodiment. The wires Id
and 2d just need to be guided into the water 10. The load arrangement 301 /
401 is preferably
configured in a modular way. Like in the first embodiment the load arrangement
301 / 401
preferably comprises a carrier (not shown in Figs. 4 and 5). As the current is
transmitted via
water instead of wiring there will be ease of installation, cost reduction and
flexibility.
10 Further, the modularity also allows for freedom of placement.
Fig. 6 shows a schematic diagram of a third embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement 102 including a third embodiment of a load arrangement 302
according
to the present invention, and Fig. 7 shows a schematic diagram of the third
embodiment of
the electrical power arrangement 202 including the third embodiment of the
load arrangement
15 402 in an anti-fouling application scenario. Compared to the second
embodiment, the third
embodiment additionally comprises an electrically conductive current guidance
member 12
arranged within or attached to the second external element 11 and between the
second AC
terminal lb and the second load terminal 2b, without having galvanic contact
with them. This
current guidance member 12 may e.g. be an extra electrode (e.g. a plate or
wire) arranged
within the water 10 to lower the impedance of the current path between the
second AC
terminal lb and the second load terminal 2b. Again, the load arrangement 302
is preferably
configured in a modular way. The guidance member 12 may also sit on top of the
modular
sticker assembly in the form of a wire or a loop, or it can even be an
extension of the wire 2d.
Thus the distance between adjacent loops is made by local sea water bridges
(alternating
chain of guidance members and sea water bridges).
Further, for the wire ld a (often already existing) DC power line may be used.
Such a DC power line is generally arranged within or attached to the second
external element,
i.e. is guided into the water, to reduce or avoid natural corrosion of the
ship hull. This DC
power line ld may thus be reused and electrically connected to the second AC
terminal lb to
impress the AC current in addition to the DC current. This avoids the need of
additional
wires and of additional bores through the ship hull.
Fig. 8 shows a schematic diagram of a fourth embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement 203 including fourth embodiment of a load arrangement 403
according to
the present invention in an anti-fouling application scenario. Compared to the
first
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embodiment the load 2 comprises two anti-parallel coupled LEDs 20a, 20b
coupled between
the first electrode 3 and the second electrode 7. This provides that they arc
alternately
emitting light in the respective half period of the AC current wave.
Fig. 9 shows a schematic diagram of the fifth embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement 204 including fourth embodiment of a load arrangement 404
according to
the present invention in an anti-fouling application scenario. In this
embodiment the load 2
comprises a diode bridge 23 (also called Graetz bridge or Graetz circuit) of
four Schottky
diodes and an LED 24 coupled between the midpoints 23a, 23b of the diode
bridge. The
diode bridge 23 serves as rectifier for rectifying the coupled AC current so
that the LED 24 is
illuminating in both half periods of the AC current.
Fig. 10 shows a schematic diagram of a sixth embodiment of an electrical
power arrangement 105 including a plurality of load arrangements 305a, 305b,
305c
according to the present invention, and Fig. 11 shows a schematic diagram of
the sixth
embodiment of the electrical power arrangement 205 in an anti-fouling
application scenario
comprising the plurality of load arrangements 405a, 405b, 405c. The load 2
thus comprises a
plurality of loads 25a, 25b, 25c (also called sub-loads), whose first load
terminals are coupled
in parallel to a common first electrode (not shown) or separate first
electrodes 3a, 3b, 3c and
whose second load terminals are coupled in parallel to a common second
electrode 7 (as
shown in Fig. 11), separate second electrodes 7a, 7b, 7c (i.e. a segmented
second electrode as
shown in Fig. 10) or the second external element (not shown). Each of the
loads 25a, 25b,
25c may thereby be configured as shown in any one of Figs. 1 to 9.
Unlike conventional solutions, the loads 25a, 25b, 25c are connected directly
in parallel with the AC power source 1 and are terminated by a passive ground
electrode (i.e.
the second electrode(s) 7 or 7a, 7b, 7c), rather than using two active
transfer electrodes in
.. between the AC power source 1 and the load 2. Also in this configuration
the local current is
reactance limited by the surface area of the passive electrode, and, hence,
the local DC
current that can flow through, for example, a short-circuit (LED).
For low resistivity electrodes, the effective current I is described by
Isubload =
Uoscillator*2*1c*PC, where U is the effective (oscillator) voltage and f the
driving frequency.
The value of the local capacitance C depends on the local area of the
segmented passive
electrode 3 (or 3a, 3b, 3c), the local thickness of the dielectric layer 4 (or
4a,4b,4c) in
between the electrode 3 (or 3a, 3b, 3c) and the common electrode 5 and the
permittivity
thereof Since, the current 1 depends on the applied drive voltage U, it may be
understood that
the power P transfer capability, even if the electrical power arrangement is
very efficient, is
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reactance limited, given by Peff= Ueff*Ieff. Thus to transfer a lot of power,
high voltage ancUor
large capacitance is required. For the sake of safety it may be clear that
large capacitance is
preferred. Since ship hulls provide a large surface area and UV-C LEDs arc low-
power, this
can be used according to the desired application scenario. Hence, also from
the perspective of
LED power it is beneficial to deploy a plurality of local (DC) power sources
fed by a single
(AC) supply line.
Beneficially, the dielectric material can be used to embed the LEDs within a
U\/-C transparent, water and salt impermeable enclosure, i.e. all the elements
may be
accommodated within housing and can additionally or alternatively be embedded
in dielectric
material, which may be the same material as used for the dielectric layer 4. A
suitable
embedding material that is well UV-C transparent is silicone. In addition,
since the area of
the local passive electrode (the second electrode 7) and the local dielectric
material thickness
are design parameter, even LEDs and other electronics requiring different
current ancUor
voltage levels can still be connected to one and the same oscillator.
Beneficially, the use of a
single drive line reduces the problem of a wire hassle since any wire is
allowed to be
connected to any other wire. This eases the installation, in particular in the
off-shore industry.
It can be deduced from the formula given above that the area of the passive
electrode can be minimized in deploying higher driving frequencies, thereby
potentially
limiting the area/volume of the vulnerable electronics. For a large effective
sub-load current
(i.e. current through one of a plurality of loads 25a, 25b, 25c, as e.g. shown
in Figs. 10 and 11)
to flow, however, the surface area of the passive electrode will still have a
certain size.
Fortunately, it does not matter if the area becomes cut on damage, in that a
cut will hardly
reduce its surface area. This is illustrated in Fig. 12A showing a diagram of
a locally cut
segmented second electrode 7b as used in an embodiment of the electrical power
arrangement, wherein the cuts 70 have hardly any impact on the effective
passive electrode
area.
Only if the surface area of the passive electrode is reduced, as illustrated
in Fig.
12B showing a diagram of damaged segmented second electrodes 7b, 7c, the LED
output of
the LED in the sub-loads 25b, 25c becomes reduced, which is undesired. Hence,
for a
substantially damaged passive electrode area, the area is affected
significantly. In deploying
load share resistors, part of the area loss can be compensated for by the
nearest neighbors,
with the value of R determining how many and to what extent (functional, open
or short-
circuit) neighbors can compensate for the experienced area loss.
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To cope with passive electrode damage, load share resistors 26a, 26b may be
deployed connecting one or more adjacent passive sub-electrodes 7a, 7b, 7c in
parallel, as
also illustrated in Fig. 12B. One benefit of the load-share resistors 26a, 26b
is that in the
undamaged case significant differences between adjacent sub-electrodes 7a, 7b,
7c do not
exist and, hence, there is hardly any power dissipation in the load share
resistor 26a, 26b.
When there is damage, part of the damaged LED current can be carried by the
neighboring
sub-electrodes 7a, 7b, 7c. How much sharing is possible depends on the value
of the load
share resistor 26a, 26b. For a low value of the load share resistor 26a, 26b,
a substantial
fraction of passive electrode area is allowed to be missing. However, if one
or more of the
neighbors also develop a short-circuit, a too large short-circuit current can
flow. When the
value of the load share resistor 26a, 26b is too high, there is hardly any
missing electrode
compensation possible. Hence, a fair load sharing capacity of 10- 40% is
estimated to be a
reasonable value. In the case of a 20mA UV-C LED current, load share resistor
values of
about 1-4 ki2 are reasonable, but the value is not limited to this range.
As discussed above, if the area of the local active electrode (i.e. the first
electrode) is designed to allow for a maximum current with a value equal or
near to that of
the UV-C LED, sub-loads arc allowed to develop a short-circuit without
significantly
affecting their functional neighbors (with or without load share resistor).
Consequently, in
case both the positive and the negative terminal of a local DC power source
become exposed
upon damage, also the magnitude of the electro-chemical current is limited,
whereas its
location is confined to the area of damage. Since the exposed terminals will
dissolve over
time, the amount of electro-chemistry will also reduce over time if not
stopped in full because
of material dissolution.
Satisfactory results may e.g. be obtained for drive frequencies ranging
between 0.1 and 100 MHz. AC electro-chemistry takes place and corrosion will
form, for
example when the supply wire lb is cut. Damage control is therefore required.
Here another
benefit of a high oscillator frequency (> ¨20 kHz) exists. If the supply wire
lb (power supply
wire supplies AC power and hence induces AC electro-chemistry; within the load
AC is
converted to DC, and DC electrochemistry takes place, but only locally) is
exposed towards
the sea water, the supply wire and the hull will act as altematingly anode and
cathode. For
high frequencies this is not different, yet, for both electrodes the waste
products of the
electro-chemistry will be available at each electrode and in stoichiometric
amounts for a
symmetric drive voltage. More importantly, due to formation kinetics of the
gas bubbles, the
bubbles will still be small-sized before the polarity reverses. Hence, auto-
ignition and thus
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self-annihilation takes place. This process generates heat, but the amount of
free waste
products is reduced dramatically.
Another benefit of the proposed solution is that the closing of the electric
circuit is done by means of the passive electrode area in series with either
the well conductive
sea water below the water line or non-conductive air above the water line.
Hence, the loads
above the waterline self-dim. Besides the conductivity, also the dielectric
constants above
and below the waterline are different with again the resulting effect working
in the right
direction. Loads above the water line can thus be made to dim passively,
depending on the
coupling ratio towards the ship hull and the ambient sea water/air, thereby
saving energy and,
at the same time, reducing the amount of UV-C radiated into the ambient
environment above
the water line. If required the LEDs can even be turned off in full by
deploying an active
detection circuit. Different embodiments describe the different means and
methods to achieve
this (e.g. using different dielectric thicknesses, different materials, two
level passive
electrodes, a detour hole toward the hull that may wet or not, etc.).
According to one aspect of the present invention all loads are connected in
series with the oscillator (AC power source), terminated by a passive ground.
An advantage
of this setup is that all the current flowing from the passive electrode to
ground also flows
through the sum of sub-loads. The efficiency or power transfer of this setup
is determined by
the ratio of the energy consumed by all the sub-loads and that dissipated (in
series with the
loads) by the ambient environment at the passive ground electrode. When the
ambient
environment is well conducting (low series resistivity), which is the case for
sea water and
the ship hull, the power losses are low. This is because the ship hull is
thick, has a large
surface area and is made of well electrically well conducting steel, whereas
the resistive
losses of the sea water are small because of its rather high conductivity. In
fact, the ship hull
is floating in an infinite, liquid array of 3D resistors. Moreover, all
resistive paths to ground
are in parallel, yielding a very low effective resistance. Above all, this
resistance is self-
adapting in that the sea water follows the contours of the ship hull either in
movement or
stationary as well as that it adapts to differences in the waterline due to
variations in load
(cargo/ballast water or both). Thus, under all circumstances the efficiency of
the proposed
electrical power arrangement is high and optimal.
Given the expected low-loss contributions of the ship hull and sea water, the
dielectric properties of the dielectric layer on top of the segmented passive
electrodes are,
hence, most important. The loss related to this layer can be very low when for
example
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silicone is used. The use of silicones is furthermore beneficial as it is UV-C
transparent and
water and salt blocking.
Another aspect of the present invention relates to the potential cutting of
the
common power line (i.e. the supply wire lb) and subsequent exposure to the sea
water.
5 .. Although such cutting will render the loads connected down-stream to
become inoperative,
the amount of power dumped into the sea water and the time that such dumping
takes place
can be minimized. This can be done on optimizing its physical dimensions as
well as its rate
of erosion on exposure. The common power line is therefore preferably executed
as a thin
and wide strip, rather than executing it as a thick round wire. In addition,
ductile materials
10 may be used, such as gold, silver, copper and aluminum that can be cut
and torn easily. Of
these materials, aluminum is the most preferred material, as aluminum will
also dissolve in
both acidic and basic environments. Thus, when electro-chemistry takes place
aluminum will
dissolve much faster than most other materials, while it is still a good
electrical conductor. In
addition, chlorine gas and ions both accelerate the dissolution of aluminum
already by nature.
15 Hence, the surface area of the exposed strip or cross-section will be
reduced rapidly, thereby
rapidly decreasing the amount of power dumped toward the ambient sea water.
Furthermore, aluminum has a low melting point, allowing for the integration
of one or more fuses into the power line itself. Beneficially, aluminum is
also a very good
reflector for UV-C. Thus, both power line and passive electrodes are
preferably executed in
20 (sheet) aluminum. Furthermore, aluminum allows for the (wire) bonding of
electronic
components without the need for solder, and it can be laser welded. Hence, the
full
integration of all the electronic components into an UV-C LED strip, also
having passive
segmented electrodes is possible. In addition, LEDs strips can be easily
adhered to curved
and contoured surfaces and can be made in long lengths. An LED strip or LED
sticker may
.. hence be used in an embodiment. Furthermore, the thickness of the sticker
carrier can be
easily controlled over large areas and lengths, and hence, the capacitance to
the hull can be
set with little effort (area of the electrodes 3 and 7 patterned directly on
top of the carrier.).
If an LED strip or LED sticker is used having only a single power supply wire,
the remainder of the anti-fouling tile (i.e. of the load arrangement) may
comprise a "passive"
tiling, comprising only an UV-C light guide, optically connected to the LED
strip. This can
be a snap over tile (light guide goes over LED strip), or be a slab of light
guiding material
filling the gap between adjacent LED strips, or comprise a plurality of
smaller tiles filling the
space in between LED strips. The advantage is that the light guides can be cut
to measure to
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fill the gap without damaging the LED strips. The optical coupling between the
light guiding
members and LED strips can be executed as air, (sea) water or silicone.
Generally, the connection wire lc may be directly (galvanically) connected to
the second electrode 7 or may end in the water so that the connection between
the connection
wire lc and the second electrode 7 is made through the water, which is
particularly useful In
case of use a sticker-type solution of the load arrangement. These different
solutions shall be
indicated by the dotted line between the end of the connection wire 3 and the
second
electrode 7 (particularly in Figs. 8 and 9). Further, the second electrode 7
is preferably
directly connected to the load 2, i.e. there is generally no (long) connection
between the load
terminal 2b and the second electrode 7.
In the following further embodiments will be described.
Fig. 13 shows a side view (Fig. 13A) and a top view (Fig. 13B) of a practical
implementation of an electrical power arrangement 106 according to the present
invention in
an anti-fouling application scenario, which is similar to the sixth embodiment
depicted in
Figs. 10 and 11. In this embodiment a single, thin and wide conductive power
supply wire 3
(representing the first electrode) carried on top of one or more dielectric
(adhesive) substrates
40 (part of which representing the dielectric layer 4) is provided, with the
single supply wire
3 (being connect to the AC terminal lb directly or by external member 11 (sea
water))
preferably being executed in sheet aluminum and being voltage modulated by a
high
frequency AC oscillator (not shown). The single supply wire 3 is galvanically
connected to a
plurality of loads 25a, 25b, 25c connected in parallel, including for example
local DC power
sources executed in the form of a Graetz bridge 23 and LEDs 24 as shown in
Fig. 9 or 12.
Each load 25a, 25b, 25c is terminated by a current limiting passive ground
electrode 7a, 7b,
7c.
Across the Graetz bridge 23 of every load 25a, 25b, 25e there may be one or
more electronic components connected, such as (UV-C) LEDs, ICs and/or other
electronic
circuits and modules. Preferably, the whole assembly is enclosed in a UV-C
transparent,
water and salt impermeable enclosure 41, e.g. made of silicone.
The supply wire 3 (representing the first electrode) may be provided with one
or more integrated fuses 26 (e.g. executed in sheet aluminum) and a water
tight, insulated
attachment of the power supply wire. The fuse provides safety in case of wire
damage. This
is illustrated in Fig. 14 showing a top view of another practical
implementation of an
electrical power arrangement 107 according to the present invention in an anti-
fouling
application scenario.
84312660
22
In another embodiment the passive electrode areas 7a, 7b, 7c may also be
executed in sheet aluminum. Further, the passive electrode areas may be
executed such that
multiple capacitance values can be obtained, depending on the electric and
dielectric
properties of the ambient environment. For example, different thicknesses of
the dielectric at
the top and the bottom side of the passive electrode, or two different
dielectric materials (e.g.
one sticks well and the other having a better UV transparency), or a locally
thinned dielectric
material on top in form of a hole that can be wet sea water, may be deployed.
Another
example is a passive electrode split in two or more connected sub-parts, with
one or more
part raised in plane when compared to the other part close to the carrier
substrate. Further, the
reverse of these options described above may be used. Yet another embodiment
may
comprise an inflatable or flapping passive electrode or a cavity below or on
top of a passive
electrode, allowing for local height and/or dielectric material adjustment.
These are just
examples of options that can be used to tune the individual contributions of
the upper and low
half of the passive ground electrode with the aim to auto-dim the local LEDs
depending on
the dielectric and electric properties of the ambient environment.
In still another embodiment the LED strip 25a, 25b may be optically
extendable by an add-on light guide, for example executed as a roll 27a, a
tile 27b or any
other shaped extendable, yet, passive UV-C light guide as illustrated in Fig.
15. Such tiles
can be damaged and/or lost on impact and be replaced as easily as required.
Other applications than the use at an external surface of a ship hull include
buildings under water, such as a pier, pile of a bridge or wind power plant,
etc.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the
drawings
and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be
considered illustrative or
exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed
embodiments.
Other variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected
by those
skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the
drawings, the
disclosure, and the appended claims.
In the claims, the word "comprising" does not exclude other elements or steps,
and the indefinite article "a" or "an" does not exclude a plurality. A single
element or other
unit may fulfill the functions of several items recited in the claims.
It follows a list of further embodiments and aspects:
Date recue/Date received 2023-05-29
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Cl. A marine structure comprising:
a surface (50) and
a load (2, 20, 21, 22, 25) having a first load teuninal (2a) and a second load
terminal (2b) for being powered by an AC power source (1), said AC power
source (1)
having a first AC terminal (la) electrically connectable to the surface (50)
and a second AC
terminal (lb),
a first electrode (3) electrically connected to the first load terminal (2a),
and
a dielectric layer (4),
wherein the first electrode (3) and the dielectric layer (4) are arranged to
form, in
combination with the surface (50), a capacitor (6) for capacitive transmission
of electrical
power between the first electrode (3) and the surface (50),
wherein the second AC terminal (lb) and the second load terminal (2b) are
arranged for
being electrically connected to a second external electrically conductive
element (10, 11)
insulated from the surface (50), and
wherein the first load terminal (2a) is electrically insulated from the second
load terminal
(2b).
C2. The marine structure as defined in embodiment Cl,
wherein the surface (50) is an external surface.
C3. The marine structure as defined in embodiment C2,
wherein the surface (50) is at least part of a ship hull.
C4. The marine structure as defined in embodiment Cl,
further comprising an AC power source (1) for powering said load.
C5. The marine structure as defined in embodiment Cl,
further comprising a carrier (80) carrying the load (2), the first electrode
(3) and the dielectric
layer (4) and being configured for being arranged at the ship hull (50).
C6. The marine structure as defined in embodiment Cl,
further comprising a second electrode (7) electrically connected to the load
(2) and being
arranged for being electrically connected to an AC power source (1).
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C7. The marine structure as defined in embodiment Cl,
wherein the load (2) is arranged for being electrically connected to the
second external
electrically conductive element (10, 11), which is water, in particular sea
water.
C8. The marine structure as defined in embodiment CI,
further comprising an electrically conductive current guidance member (12)
arranged within
or attached to the second external element (10, 11) and the load terminal (2).
C9. The marine structure as defined in embodiment Cl,
further comprising a DC power line (1d) arranged within or attached to the
second external
element (10).
C10. The marine structure as defined in embodiment Cl,
further comprising a housing (8) accommodating the load (2, 20, 21, 22), the
first electrode
(3) and the dielectric layer (4).
C 1 1 . The marine structure as defined in embodiment Cl,
comprising a plurality of loads (25a, 25b, 25c), whose first load terminals
are coupled in
parallel to a common first electrode (3) or separate first electrodes (3a, 3b,
3c) and whose
second load terminals are coupled in parallel to a common second electrode
(7), separate
second electrodes (7a, 7b, 7c) or the second external element (10, 11).
C12. The marine structure as defined in embodiment Cl,
wherein the load (20, 21, 22) comprises a light source, in particular an LED
or an UV-LED.
C13. The marine structure as defined in embodiment C12,
wherein the load (22) comprises a diode bridge circuit (23), wherein the light
source (24) is
coupled between the midpoints (23a, 23b) of the diode bridge circuit (23).
C14. The marine structure as defined in embodiment Cl,
wherein the load (21) comprises a first LED (21a) and a second LED (21b)
coupled anti-
parallel to each other.
C15. The marine structure as defined in embodiment C5,
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wherein the ship hull (50) is covered by a plurality of carriers (80) and
wherein a plurality of
AC power sources (1) are provided, each being configured for powering the
loads of two or
more carriers (3).
5 Al. A load arrangement for use in an electrical power
arrangement and for
arrangement at a first external electrically conductive element (5, 50), said
load arrangement
comprising:
a load (2, 20, 21, 22, 25) having a first load terminal (2a) and a second load
terminal (2b) for being powered by an AC power source (1),
10 - a first electrode (3) electrically connected to the first load
terminal (2a), and
a dielectric layer (4),
wherein the first electrode (3) and the dielectric layer (4) are arranged to
form, in
combination with a first external electrically conductive element (5, 50), a
capacitor (6) for
capacitive transmission of electrical power between the first electrode (3)
and the first
15 external element (5, 50),
wherein at least one of the capacitor (6) and the second load terminal (2b) is
arranged for
electrical power transmission through water (10, 11) to form an electrical
path via the water
(10, 11) between the AC power source (1) and the respective one of the
capacitor and the
second load terminal (2b), and
20 wherein the first load terminal (2a) is electrically insulated from the
second load terminal
(2b).
A2. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment Al, wherein the first
external
electrically conductive element (5, 50) is selected from the group of
electrically conductive
25 elements comprising water, in particular sea water, an environmental
object, in particular a
part of a building or vehicle, and an infrastructural object.
A3. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment Al,
wherein the first external electrically conductive element (5, 50) is a marine
structure and
wherein the second load terminal (2b) has an electrical connection to water
(10, 11) to form
an electrical path via the water (10, 11) between the AC power source (1) and
the second load
terminal (2b) and
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wherein the AC power source (1) is attached to the marine structure (5) and
the AC power
source (1) has an electrical connection to water (10, 11) to complete the
electrical path via the
water (10, 11) between the AC power source (1) and the second load terminal
(2b).
A4. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment A3,
wherein the second load terminal (2b) and the AC power source (1) have a
capacitive
electrical connection to water (10, 11).
A5. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment A3,
wherein the second load terminal (2b) and the AC power source (1) have a
resistive electrical
connection to water (10, 11).
A6. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment Al,
wherein the first external electrically conductive element (5, 50) is water
and
.. wherein the capacitor is arranged for electrical power transmission through
water (10, 11) to
form an electrical path via the water (10, 11) between the AC power source (1)
and the
capacitor.
A7. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment Al,
.. further comprising an electrically conductive current guidance member (12)
for being
arranged within or attached to the second external element (10, 11) and the
load (2) for
lowering the resistance in the conductive path of the load arrangement.
A8. The load arrangement as defined in embodimentA 7,
wherein the guidance member (12) is configured to be arranged within said
water (10, 11)
and/or attached to the load arrangement.
A9. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment Al,
comprising a plurality of loads (25a, 25b, 25c), whose first load terminals
are coupled in
parallel to a common first electrode (3) or separate first electrodes (3a, 3b,
3c) and whose
second load terminals are coupled in parallel to a common second electrode
(7), separate
second electrodes (7a, 7b, 7c) or said water (10, 11).
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A10. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment A3, wherein the
first external
element (5) is a ship hull.
All. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment A3, wherein the
first external
element (5) is an electrode embedded or connected to a non-conductive marine
structure.
Al2. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment Al,
wherein the load (20, 21, 22) comprises a light source, in particular an LED
or an UV-LED
or including a first LED (21a) and a second LED (21b) coupled anti-parallel to
each other.
A13. The load arrangement as defined in embodiment Al,
wherein the load (22) comprises a diode bridge circuit (23), wherein the light
source (24) is
coupled between the midpoints (23a, 23b) of the diode bridge circuit (23).
A14. An electrical power arrangement for powering a load, said electrical
power
arrangement comprising:
an AC power source (1) and
a load arrangement as defined in any one of embodiments Al to A13.
Al 5. A system comprising:
a load arrangement as defined in any one of embodiments Al to A13,
an impressed current cathodic protection, ICCP, system and
a control unit for controlling said load arrangement and said ICCP system to
work in combination.
A16. A marine structure having an outer surface comprising a load
arrangement as
claimed in any one of embodiments Al to A13, wherein the load arrangement is
attached to
the said outer surface.
A17. A method for installing a load arrangement as defined in any one of
embodiments Al to Al3 to an outer surface of a marine structure.
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A18. Use of a load arrangement as defined in any one of embodiments Al to
A13
for installation to an outer surface of a marine structure, in particular to
counter bio-fouling of
the outer surface.
